National Lacrosse League (1974)
Tombstone
Born: 1974 – NLL founding franchise
Moved: Postseason 1974 (Boston Bolts)
First Game:
Last Game:
Nations Cup Championships: None
Arena
Maple Leaf Gardens (16,316)11974 Philadelphia Wings Media Guide
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Bruce Norris
Background
The Toronto Tomahawks were a professional box (indoor) lacrosse that lasted for just one season in the National Lacrosse League of the 1970’s. The team played 20 home dates at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1974 on a spring/summer schedule. The Tomahawks finished in 5th place in the six-team NLL with a 17-23 record. They missed the playoffs.
Bob Haw led the Tomahawks in scoring with 52 goals and 101 assists. His 153 points were good for 7th overall in the NLL scoring charts in 1974.
Bruce Norris, owner of the NHL Detroit Red Wings, owned the Tomahawks. In September 1974 he announced the club would not return to Toronto in 1975. Sportswriter Rick Wheeler, writing for the Syracuse Post-Standard that October pegged the Tomahawks failure in Toronto on two factors: the lack of air conditioning in Maple Leaf Gardens and the decision to broadcast home games on local television. According to Wheeler, the team lost an estimated $400,000.2Wheeler, Rick. “Stingers Franchise Will Be Relocated”. The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY). October 22, 1974
Re-Organization
In a confusing sequence of events, Norris bought the NLL’s championship Rochester Griffins franchise and moved the club to the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. Norris’ abandoned Toronto Tomahawks franchise moved to Boston under new ownership where it became the Boston Bolts. Norris then changed the name of the Griffins to the Long Island Tomahawks for the 1975 season. Some press accounts of the time mistakenly (but understandably) referred to the Long Island Tomahawks as the relocated Toronto club.
The National Lacrosse League went out of business in February 1976 after two seasons of play.
We’ve been searching for years for memorabilia from the Toronto Tomahawks to add to this site. All we’ve come up with is this crummy keychain (above). Email [andyATfunwhileitlasted.net] if you can do better!
In Memoriam
Toronto Tomahawks owner Bruce Norris died of liver failure on January 1, 1986 at the age of 61. New York Times obituary.
Links
National Lacrosse League Media Guides
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One Response
It was the best of times. Several players from Mississauga joined the upstart league. Duffy McCarthy, Al Gordeneer and Paul Cioci, just to name a few. As Duffy’s kid brother, my dad and I followed the boys at every chance we got. They were and still are my top of the list go to guys. All in their 70’s now, we still hang out together. Great stuff.